St Patrick's Athletic 1; Derry City 1: Depleted Derry City were always facing an uphill task in their opening National League Premier Division fixture against St Patrick's Athletic last night, even before a ball was kicked.
Minus six of their more experienced players - all ruled out because of suspensions carried over from last season - they were always going to be up against it.
And so it turned out to be at Richmond Park, although their efforts were eventually rewarded in the 77th minute when skipper Seán Hargan earned them a late point.
And to make it an even worse night for the Saints, manager Eamon Collins was banished from the dugout with just three minutes left.
The northern visitors didn't help their cause with the opening goal coming from an own-goal, and that with just 15 minutes gone on the clock.
Keith Fahey's long hopeful ball into the box was flicked on and Derry City's Eddie McCallion, under pressure from Daragh Maguire, headed past his own goalkeeper.
A soft goal to concede, but Derry kept battling away in search of an equaliser and went close when Saints keeper Chris Adamson had to be alert on 24 minutes to deny Mark Farren.
And he was called upon again early in the second half, this time to thwart Hargan.
The lead goal had been fully deserved by the Saints as they looked the more dangerous going forward and only for Pat Jennings in the Derry goal they would have doubled their lead as the former UCD man saved well from Gary McPhee in the 56th minute, the net-minder having already denied Paul Osam.
And the Saints were to pay for those misses 13 minutes from time when the unmarked Hargan arrived in the box to fire home the equaliser for Derry City from 10 yards out having been picked out by Ciarán Martyn.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson, Quigley, Donnelly, Ndo, Maguire, Foley, Osam, Fahey, Bird, Jones, McPhee. Subs: Prenderville for Jones (77 mins), O'Keeffe for McPhee (84 mins).
Derry City: Jennings, Brennan, Hargan, O'Grady, Martyn, McCallion, Deery, Holt, Farren, McChrystal, Byrne. Sub: Gill for Byrne (73 mins).
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)
